Douglas A-1H Skyraider U.S. Navy Tamiya-61058

Description

During 1943, the U.S. Bureau of Aeronautics considered combining the functions of torpedo bomber and ground bomber in one single-seat aircraft. The Douglas Skyraider, designed by the Douglas Company, met these requirements.
Development of this aircraft began in July 1944 and its first operational flight took place in March 1945.
The Skyraider was equipped with a powerful 2,800 hp R3350 radial engine, which allowed it to reach maximum speeds of 520 km/h, and was armed with four 20 mm AN/M3 cannons. It also had the capacity to carry some 3,600 kg of bombs of various types: bombs, torpedoes, cluster bombs, rockets….
Seven different versions of the Skyraider were made, numbered from AD-1 to AD-7, although the most widely developed was the AD-6, this designation being replaced in 1962 by the A-1H, which is the one reproduced in this 1/48th scale Tamiya kit.
The Douglas Skyraider fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars.